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Peter Dunham's sophisticated, casual, and vibrant interiors have graced the pages of most major U.S. and International design and shelter magazines. Dunham has been named a House Beautiful "Top 100 Designer" five years in a row, House & Garden Tastemaker, and Western Interiors, The List of Designers and Architects, three years running.

Ee caught up with the busy high-profile designer to learn more about his products, projects, and what lies ahead.

Take us back to the beginning. How did your craft evolve... were there early mentors? 

For two summers in a row starting when I was 15, I worked for an interior design firm in London called Zarach, which specialized in very glitzy work for a mostly Middle Eastern clientele. Also, my best friend at boarding school was Ashley Hicks, David Hicks’s son. I saw all of their houses. David knew I was totally into his work so he used to spend a lot of time explaining it to me. Later, while I was in college, he gave me a job.

In addition to David Hicks, Teddy Millington-Drake and his partner, John Stefanidis, were friends and mentors. They had great houses in England, Patmos and Tuscany that were big influences. Part of my late start designing was due to the fact that all these successful designers – along with Jacques Grange – told me that interior design was a very hard way to make a living, so I listened and went into real estate instead.

When I moved to Los Angeles, I was buying houses to flip. One got published and people started calling to see if I would help them. Friends in the press have always been really supportive and Marion McEvoy asked me to participate in a House Beautiful show house that helped put me on the map.

Did you have that eureka moment when you knew design was your calling? 

The first time I found out that interior design actually existed was when I met Ashley Hicks at school at 15. Ashley had all of his father’s books and we used to leaf through them over and over again. I was very much into what David Hicks was doing.

How do you approach a new project?

I get try to get to know the clients as much as possible: what are their interests, hobbies, etc. Often people don’t know how to express what they are really looking to create. You have to dig in a bit. A project really works for me if it accurately idealizes its occupants.

Logistically speaking, we start by making a furniture plan and a companion budget that gives the client and us an effective framework. We then figure out which items we will manufacture and which vintage or found items we will start looking for that really speak to the project.

Your work has been described as; 'sophisticated casual' and vibrant. From where do you draw your inspiration? 

I go visit as many houses as possible either in LA or while traveling. Last week, for example, I went to see the famous Brody House in Holmby Hills. The Brodys commissioned architect Quincy Jones and interior designer Billy Haines to build them a modern house in 1949. Apart from the art that had recently been sold at auction the house was intact. The fusion between “very cutting edge” architecture, interiors and landscaping was brilliant. There was a lot to inspire in that one house.

I also like to travel to replenish my visual batteries and get inspired by new things. I go and visit museums a lot, walk, go to markets. I am always curious. Even basic things like flea markets can be a great inspiration.

We're always curious about a designer's personal space. Where and how do you live?  

I live with my partner and several dogs in a 2,200-square foot 1920’s Spanish House on the edge of West Hollywood. I have a beautiful garden with a pool designed by my friend, Wade Graham. There is a second structure in the back, a two-story barn built in 1939 that serves as my office. It’s great not having to commute since I have to drive and travel so much for my work. It feels like our own sanctuary in the middle of the city.

Tell us about your signature furniture and fabric collections?  

I started doing custom fabrics for my own projects when I couldn’t find what I was looking for. People started asking me to sell them some and we developed a small line seven years ago. What began as a side hobby grew into its own business. The furniture line also started because I kept on reproducing vintage pieces for my own projects, pieces that I loved or else were always hard to find. When I opened my first Hollywood at Home shop to sell my textiles we put in some of my furniture and some vintage pieces to make the space a bit prettier and the things started selling. So, it kind of just evolved that way.

How do you envision your firm in the coming years? 

I’m really focused on what’s happening with my business at the present because I really like what I am doing right now.

There are five of us in my design office, which is manageable. The textiles and Hollywood at Home run as separate businesses and hum along quite nicely.

The textiles are currently in 16 showrooms and we are launching our furniture line in the beginning of 2011 in New York and in San Francisco. I would like to spend more time on designing textiles and furniture, but the interior design business requires most of my focus for now. I learned through this recession two main things: first, it’s good to have a rainy day fund and second, not to put all your eggs in one basket. I am very proud that so far I haven’t had to lay anyone off. When our interior design business was slower, people were still buying textiles to cover a couple of cushions or buying some armchairs from Hollywood at Home in a cheery fabric to give their spaces a mini-makeover. If anything, going forward, I would like to design products for a mass market to continue this diversification.

What reading materials are currently on your nightstand? 

I always need to read to fall asleep so there are constantly a few things on my nightstand. At the moment:
“Divisadero” by Michael Ondaatje
“The Girl Who Played with Fire” by Stieg Larsson
“The Uncommon Reader” by Alan Bennett
“Let the Great World Spin” by Colum McCann
“A Princess Remembers” by Gayatri Devi

You can learn more about Peter Dunham at http://www.peterdunham.com.